Stainless Steel Chopstick Set

ABSTRACT

A stainless steel chopstick set includes chopsticks and a container. Each chopstick includes at least two sections. Each section has a hollow body in a taper shape for storage purpose. The container is provided with troughs to accommodate the chopsticks therein. The container has a flat supporting surface at one side to be placed on a table while the opposite side has a recess for the chopsticks to be rested thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a stainless steel chopstick set, in particular to a container to store retractable chopsticks when not in use and to rest the chopsticks steadily when in use.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are quite a few chopsticks on the market that have multi-section design. Among them, there are some chopsticks stored in a round-shaped chopstick keeper. The chopsticks are designed with threads for connection. The threads after a period of time will be damaged their teeth and cause a bad connection. The other shortcoming is that the round-shaped chopstick keeper may roll on a flat surface, thus it is hard to maintain at a fixed place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a stainless steel chopstick set which has a pair of chopsticks composed of multiple retractable sections and stored in a container. The container has a flat surface at one side to be placed on a table, while the chopsticks are resting on a recess of the container when in use.

Each chopstick is composed of multiple sections. Each section has a diameter gradually reduced from the top end to the bottom end and each section is in a hollow design so that the sections can be retracted into each other. Each section has an open end and a contracted end so that one section can be inserted into the other section through the open end and restricted by the contracted end. Each said chopstick comprises a first section, a second section, and a third section. Said open end of said second section is provided with a pin. A middle portion of one of said sections is formed with circular recesses to form a grip portion. A lower end of one of said sections is formed with circular recesses to form a clip portion. The stainless steel chopstick set further comprises a container, said container comprising troughs to store said chopsticks therein, said container having a flat supporting surface at one side and a recess at an opposite side. Said container further comprises a cover to cover said troughs. Said container further comprises another trough for storing toothpicks.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a stainless steel chopstick set, which is easy to operate and to store the chopsticks. The pin provided on the open end of the second section can avoid hurting the user's finger when the third section is retracted in the second section.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a stainless steel chopstick set, which has a flat side to support the container seating on top of a table steadily while the opposite side has a recess for the chopsticks to rest thereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a stainless steel chopstick set, which can store the chopsticks and toothpicks simultaneously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TH DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention after assembled;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken along circle A of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a pair of chopsticks 1 and a container 2.

Each of the chopsticks 1 comprises a first section 11, a second section 12, and a third section 13. Each of the three sections 11, 12 and 13 has a hollow body in a taper shape. Each of the three sections 11, 12 and 13 has a larger diameter at the top and a smaller diameter at the bottom so that they may be stored in the others. The first section 11 has an open end 111 at the top with inner threads around the edge for threaded connection with a lid 112. The bottom of the first section 11 is formed with a contracted end 113. The second section 12 is inserted into the first section 11. The second section 12 has an open end 121 at the top and a contracted end 125 at the bottom. The open end 121 is formed with a pair of locating holes 122 for insertion of a pin 123. The middle portion of the second section 12 is formed with a number of circular recesses to form a grip portion 124. The third section 13 is inserted into the second section 12. The third section 13 has an open end 13 at the top. The bottom end of the third section 13 is formed with a number of circular recesses to form a clip portion 132 for picking up food.

The container 2 comprises a number of troughs 21 and 21A. The troughs 21 are for the chopsticks 1 to be stored therein, while the trough 21A is for storage of toothpicks 3, as shown in FIG. 4. The container 2 has a flat supporting surface 22 at one side to be placed on a table while the opposite side has a recess 23 for the chopsticks 1 to be rested thereon. The container 2 further comprises a cover 24 adapted to cover the troughs 21 and 21A.

To collapse the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the third section 13 is inserted into the second section 12 through the open end 121, allowing the clip portion 132 of the third section 13 to extend through the contracted end 125 of the second section 12. The pin 123 is inserted through the locating holes 122 of the open end 121. When the third section 13 is retracted from the contracted end 125, the open end 131 of the third section 13 is blocked by the pin 123, which prevents the third section 13 from being retracted into the second section 12 entirely, and avoids having the finger cut by the edge of the contracted end 125 of the second section 12. The second section 12 with the third section 13 is then placed into the first section 11 through the open end 111, allowing the contracted end 125 of the second section 12 to extend through the contracted end 113 of the first section 11. The open end 111 of the first section 11 is covered with the lid 112 to restrain the second section 12 and the third section 13 therein. The chopsticks 1 are stored in the troughs 21 of the container 2, and then sealed with the cover 24.

To use the present invention as shown in FIG. 4, open the cover 24 and take the chopsticks 1 from the troughs 21 of the container 2. The third section 13 is pulled out from the second section 12 with the open end 131 secured at the contracted end 125 of the second section 12, and then the second section 12 is pulled out from the first section 11 with the open end 121 secured at the contracted end 113. In such, the assembly is completed. Place the container 2 on a table with the flat supporting surface 22 seating on the table. The flat surface design shall keep the container 2 steady. The recess 23 is facing upward for the chopsticks 1 to be seated thereon. The trough 21A of the container 2 is set to store the toothpicks 3. 

1. A stainless steel chopstick set, comprising: chopsticks, each of said chopsticks comprising at least two sections, each said section having a hollow body in a taper shape, each said section having an open end and a contracted end so that said open end of one section is restricted by said contracted end of the other section.
 2. The stainless steel chopstick set, as recited in claim 1, wherein each said chopstick comprises a first section, a second section, and a third section.
 3. The stainless steel chopstick set, as recited in claim 2, wherein said open end of said second section is provided with a pin.
 4. The stainless steel chopstick set, as recited in claim 1, wherein a middle portion of one of said sections is formed with circular recesses to form a grip portion.
 5. The stainless steel chopstick set, as recited in claim 1, wherein a lower end of one of said sections is formed with circular recesses to form a clip portion.
 6. The stainless steel chopstick set, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a container, said container comprising troughs to store said chopsticks therein, said container having a flat supporting surface at one side and a recess at an opposite side.
 7. The stainless steel chopstick set, as recited in claim 6, wherein said container further comprises a cover to cover said troughs.
 8. The stainless steel chopstick set, as recited in claim 6, wherein said container further comprises another trough for storing toothpicks. 